Couple of questions around Russia first time travel in August

nilanko · 2026-07-07T12:29:18+00:00

Do most places in Russia have QR code system for payment that I can scan and pay using PIR? Where do you book tickets for museums, activities, experiences and day tour packages (like getyourguide.com, klook.com, etc)? Is there any one stop website link for Russia? Is it still possible for foreigners to get a physical SIM card at the airport? And do e-sims work or do they have 24 hour lock?

nilanko

Do most places in Russia have QR code system for payment that I can scan and pay using PIR?
Where do you book tickets for museums, activities, experiences and day tour packages (like getyourguide.com, klook.com, etc)? Is there any one stop website link for Russia?
Is it still possible for foreigners to get a physical SIM card at the airport? And do e-sims work or do they have 24 hour lock?

Tsar_Vlad

I frequently fly to Moscow or St. Peterburg and personally i use Qr codes everywhere, like everywhere... groceries included. About tickets for museums, you can easily find them on the website of the museum you would like to visit. For the esim can't help you, i travel with a physical sim.
By the way, I'm also using Pir for every kind of payment!

kozmikpetukh

nilanko Is it still possible for foreigners to get a physical SIM card at the airport?

Generally no, you have to be registered with the unified government services, involving painstaking proof of identity.

nilanko do e-sims work or do they have 24 hour lock?

can't speak for everyone, but my last e-sim stayed disconnected after the 24-hour wait, and then the carrier flat out told me the same rules applied as for physical SIMs. So I couldn't use it.

Cal

Payment, Sim card:
I would bring an android phone. If you don't have an android phone, get one specifically for Russia travel.
Download T-bank app (Tinkoff).

Go to chat. If you need to speak in English tell them and they will get someone to respond to you in English. Tell them you need to open a bank card and also get a T-bank sim card. They make arrangements to come to you, will meet you in the lobby and help do everything. They bring the card and the sim card with them.

I am not certain but I think you can also go online and submit an application on the T-Bank Foreign Citizens Page to get the ball rolling.